Area Coast Guardsmen remember chief petty officer killed

Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, 34, of Redondo Beach, was killed Sunday from injuries sustained during law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island. Prior to taking on his duties aboard Halibut, an 87-foot patrol cutter based at Marina del Rey, Horne served as executive petty officer, second in command, at Station Emerald Isle from 2009 to 2011. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way.

Submitted photo

By JANNETTE PIPPIN - Daily News Staff

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 08:06 PM.

EMERALD ISLE — The weekend death of a veteran Coast Guardsman in California was felt across the country at Station Emerald Isle.

Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, 34, of Redondo Beach, was killed Sunday from injuries sustained during law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island. Prior to taking on his duties aboard Halibut, an 87-foot patrol cutter based at Marina del Rey, Horne served as executive petty officer, second in command, at Station Emerald Isle from 2009 to 2011.

“He was a good friend, an outstanding executive petty officer and a true professional in all aspects of his job,” said Chief Petty Officer Rob Lepere, officer in charge at the station.

Lepere said everyone around Horne loved him and that he was a good friend and deeply loved his family. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way.

“He is a strong family man and was a good friend to everyone at Station Emerald isle,” Lepere said.

According to the Coast Guard, Cutter Halibut was investigating a “panga-type” vessel suspected of illicit activity. The vessel, a modest-sized, open-hulled boat, was initially detected by a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft.

The cutter deployed its small-boat and approached the suspect vessel, which was operating without any navigational running lights. When the Coast Guard boat approached with the blue law enforcement lights on, the suspect vessel maneuvered at a high rate of speed toward the Coast Guard small boat, rammed it and fled, a Coast Guard news release said.

EMERALD ISLE — The weekend death of a veteran Coast Guardsman in California was felt across the country at Station Emerald Isle.

Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, 34, of Redondo Beach, was killed Sunday from injuries sustained during law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island. Prior to taking on his duties aboard Halibut, an 87-foot patrol cutter based at Marina del Rey, Horne served as executive petty officer, second in command, at Station Emerald Isle from 2009 to 2011.

“He was a good friend, an outstanding executive petty officer and a true professional in all aspects of his job,” said Chief Petty Officer Rob Lepere, officer in charge at the station.

Lepere said everyone around Horne loved him and that he was a good friend and deeply loved his family. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way.

“He is a strong family man and was a good friend to everyone at Station Emerald isle,” Lepere said.

According to the Coast Guard, Cutter Halibut was investigating a “panga-type” vessel suspected of illicit activity. The vessel, a modest-sized, open-hulled boat, was initially detected by a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft.

The cutter deployed its small-boat and approached the suspect vessel, which was operating without any navigational running lights. When the Coast Guard boat approached with the blue law enforcement lights on, the suspect vessel maneuvered at a high rate of speed toward the Coast Guard small boat, rammed it and fled, a Coast Guard news release said.

Horne and a second Coast Guardsman were thrown from the boat. Horne sustained a traumatic head injury in the collision that resulted in his death.

Two Mexican nationals have been charged in Horne’s death.

While such incidents don’t happen often, Lepere said their Coast Guard duty puts them in many different, and sometimes dangerous, situations.

“It’s not something that happens often, and I hope that it never happens again, but there’s always that possibility,” he said.

Horne is remembered for his distinguished service during his Coast Guard career. Prior to heading to California, he received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. The award recognized his outstanding leadership, including 63 search-and-rescue cases resulting in 38 saved lives. His most notable rescue while at Station Emerald Isle involved the rescue of five people from a capsized boat in Bogue Inlet in July 2010.

The Coast Guard has planned a memorial service for Horne Saturday in California and efforts are underway to establish a memorial fund.